Growing into Emotions

I expected to hear it later in life, mainly because I remember saying it when I was a teenager. But my four-year old son has gained some very close friends. Not only that, this is the second time he will have to leave them. The last time was only one year ago. There were no complaints then, but I know he remembers it, and not fondly. As he said, "I don't want to move. I don't want to leave my friends," I remembered what it was like for me and it made me feel sad. For a brief moment I felt like the bad guy. A move is really a family affair, even a four-year old child feels the effects of it.

On a more positive note, I've figured out how to deal with my toddler's rebellion: just hold your ground until she's let it out. There is no doubt our daughter has an iron will. There is also no doubt that her will often conflicts with that of her parents. Yet she won't back down. Consistent with my theory that passions in children are too big for them and that it takes time for them to grow into their emotions, I've taken my daughter's emotional outbursts less seriously, and less personally. They are not a personal affront, but the big-emotion-little-body effect, as I call it. It is like turning a water hose on full blast to fill a miniature water balloon. It pops in two seconds flat. Once the Ms. Hyde subsides, our tender little girl returns to us and we can move on.

I too am growing into my emotions. My attitude is much better when bathing the three kids or putting them to bed when my wife needs to leave in the evening. There haven't been any lost tempers on my part for quite some time. I am prone to put everyone to bed a little early, however, to ensure my good temper.